Watch striking mechanism

Abstract

The watch striking mechanism ( 1 ) includes at least one gong ( 11 ) fixed to a gong-carrier ( 12 ) and at least one hammer ( 2 ) for activating the vibration of the gong. The striking mechanism includes a first magnetic element ( 20 ) in the form of a moving micro-magnet, which is arranged on a striking portion of the hammer, and a second magnetic element ( 21 ) in the form of a fixed micro-magnet, which is arranged in one part of the gong. The second magnetic element is at least partly opposite the first magnetic element and is capable of generating a magnetic field of opposite polarity to the magnetic field of the first magnetic element. In a striking mode, said hammer may be driven in the direction of the gong to activate the vibration of said gong via a magnetic impulse due to the repulsion force of the two magnetic elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A striking mechanism for a watch, said striking mechanism including at least one gong secured to a gong-carrier, and at least one hammer for activating the gong to vibrate said gong, wherein the striking mechanism includes a first magnetic element arranged on a striking portion of the hammer, and a second magnetic element arranged in a part of the gong, wherein the second magnetic element is at least partly opposite the first magnetic element, and is capable of generating a magnetic field of opposite polarity to the magnetic field of the first magnetic element, and wherein in a striking mode, said hammer may be driven in the direction of the gong to activate the vibration of said gong via a magnetic impulse due to a repulsion force of the two magnetic elements. 
     
     
       2. The striking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic element of the hammer is a moving permanent magnet. 
     
     
       3. The striking mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the moving permanent magnet is a moving micro-magnet. 
     
     
       4. The striking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic element of the gong is a fixed permanent magnet. 
     
     
       5. The striking mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein the fixed permanent magnet is a fixed micro-magnet. 
     
     
       6. The striking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic element is a coil capable of being connected to a continuous current source to generate a magnetic field of determined opposite polarity to the magnetic field generated by the second magnetic element. 
     
     
       7. The striking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic element is a coil capable of being connected to a continuous current source in order to generate a magnetic field of determined opposite polarity to the magnetic field generated by the first magnetic element. 
     
     
       8. The striking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the hammer is held at a distance from the gong via a damper spring, and wherein the hammer is driven in the direction of the gong in a striking mode via a pre-wound drive spring. 
     
     
       9. The striking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the gong defines at least one portion of a circle or one portion of a rectangle around a watch movement inside a case of said watch, wherein a first end of the gong is secured to the gong-carrier, whereas a second end is free to move, wherein the second magnetic element of the gong is arranged in proximity to the gong-carrier, and wherein the first magnetic element of the hammer is arranged, in an idle mode, opposite to and at a distance from the second magnetic element of the gong. 
     
     
       10. The striking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the striking portion of the hammer includes at least two magnetic elements in the form of micro-magnets at least partly facing a second magnetic element in the form of a fixed micro-magnet of the gong. 
     
     
       11. The striking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the gong includes at least two second magnetic elements, in the form of micro-magnets which at least partly face a first magnetic element in the form of a moving micro-magnet of the hammer. 
     
     
       12. The striking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein it includes several gongs arranged without any contact one above the other, one end of each gong being secured to the same gong-carrier or to several respective gong-carriers, each gong being able to be activated by a respective hammer to vibrate, and wherein each gong includes at least one second magnetic element, capable of generating a magnetic field of opposite polarity to each first magnetic element arranged on a striking portion of the respective hammer. 
     
     
       13. The striking mechanism according to  claim 3 , wherein the moving micro-magnet is bonded or soldered to, or inserted in a housing in the striking portion of the hammer. 
     
     
       14. The striking mechanism according to  claim 5 , wherein the fixed micro-magnet is bonded or soldered to, or inserted in a housing in a part of the gong. 
     
     
       15. The striking mechanism according to  claim 3 , wherein the micro-magnets are made by a magnetising operation in a ferromagnetic material of the striking portion of the hammer or of one part of the gong. 
     
     
       16. The striking mechanism according to  claim 5 , wherein the micro-magnets are made by a magnetising operation in a ferromagnetic material of the striking portion of the hammer or of one part of the gong.